Validation of the general and personal belief in a just world scales in Iran and their relations to perceived likelihood of kin favoritism

People possess a pre-conscious need to believe in the existence of justice in the world. This belief in a just world (BJW) is usually measured with self-report scales. Dalbert et al., Psychologische Beitrage, 29(4), 596-615 (1987) and Dalbert, Social Justice Research, 12(2), 79-98 (1999) have developed the general belief in a just world (GBJW) and personal belief in a just world (PBJW) scales as psychometrically robust measures of just-world beliefs. We conducted three studies to demonstrate the validity of the Persian versions of belief in a just world scales and the importance of distinguishing between GBJW and PBJW. First, we confirmed the factor structure. reliability, convergent validity (self-esteem, life satisfaction, and religiosity), and divergent validity (big five personality factors and dark triad traits) of GBJW and PBJW using Iranian participants (N1 =454). Second, the associations of GBJW and PBJW with perceived threat of unjust behavior directed to self or others were assessed using two scenario based studies (N2 =279, N3 =292) in the context of kin favoritism. Our finding showed that both GBJW and PBJW negatively predict perceived likelihood of kin favoritism. However, GBJW was a stronger predictor when injustice was directed at others, and PBJW was a stronger predictor when injustice was directed at self. Consistent with previous research and theoretical assumptions, perceived likelihood of punishment mediated these associations.